Spring-coiling machine



(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 1.

H. D. MILLET? SPRING GOILING MACHINE.

No. 468,573. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 2.

H. D. MILLETT. SPRING COILING MACHINE.

No. 468,573. Patented Feb. 9, 1892.

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(No Model.) v 5 Sheets-Sheet 3. H. D. MILLETT.

SPRING GOILING MACHINE.

No. 468,573. K Patented Peb. 9, 1892.

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(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 4t.`

-H.AD. MILLETT. SPRING GOILING MACHINE.

No. 468,573. Patented Feb. 9, 1892..

(No Model.) 5 Sheets-Sheet 5.

H. D. MILLBTT.

SPRING GQILING MACHINE. No. 468,573. Patented Peb. 9. 1892...

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUMPHRY D. MILLETT, OF MAYWOOD, ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES Il. FERRY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

SPRING-COILING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 468,573, dated February 9, 1892. Application filed May 4, 1891. Serial No. 391.513. (No model.)

.To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, I-IUMPHRY D. MILLETT, a citizen of the United States, residing in Maywood, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful lmprovement in Spring-Ooiling Machines, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in machines for coiling heated bars of metal ro around a mandrel to form coil-springs.

My improved spring-coiling machine is specially designed for coiling the bars used in the manufacture of car-springs. After the hot bar is coiled around the forming-mandrel the conx5 traction of the metal by cooling and the scale which is formed tend to cause the coil-spring to stick to the mandrel around which it is formed, and it has heretofore been a diiiicult and somewhat slow operation to remove the zo spring from the mandrel.. Heretofore this has usually been done by a workman with a hammer or other instrument striking blows against the spring to loosen and remove it.. As the coils of the spring are usually still at a red heat and the metal soft or easily bent, the coils of the spring are frequently bent out of shape or distorted' in the act of removing, so that it is necessary to straighten the coils u'p by hand. Heretofore, also, the 3o springcoiling machine has usually left the extreme end of the bar projecting out tangentially, and it has been customary to coil or bend this projecting end into shape by hand after the spring hasbeen removed from v the mandrel of the coiling-1nachine.

The object of my invention is to provide a spring-coiling machine for operating upon hot bars which will be vof a simple, efficient, and durable construction, which will operate to 4o remove the coil-spring from the mandrel automatically and expeditiously and without disturbing theA relative position of the coils or distorting the shape of the spring, and whereby the whole bar may be coiled without leaving any uncoiled or projecting end, and whereby, also, the coils may be formed at any desired pitch, and whereby, too, the iirst and last coils of the spring may be formed at right angles to the axis of the mandrel, so

5o that the spring will have square ends orbases and rest properly upon its support.

My invention consists in the combination, with a revolving mandrel around which the hot bar is coiled, of a clamping-jaw mounted upon and revolving with the mandrel for 5 5 clamping the end of the bar to the mandrel,

a movable support for holding the free or stationary end of the bar as it is coiled, and mechanism for stopping the revolving man dre-l at a certain point, so that the end of the 6o bar may be inserted between the clampingjaw and the mandrel at the beginning of the operation.

It also consists, in combination with the revolving mandrel around which the bar is coiled, of a pair of opposing rollers arranged ou opposite sides of the mandrel for supporting the free end of the mandrel and coiling down upon the mandrel the final end of the bar or spring, which otherwise would be left 7o projecting tangentially.

It also consists, in combination with the coiling-mandrel, of a pair of extractor-jaws for removing the spring from the mandrel, having teeth or projections adapted to lit between the coils of the spring, so as to keep the separate coils in place in respect to each other during the operation of removing the spring from the mandrel.

It further consists, in combination with the 8o revolving mandrel around which the hot bar is coiled, of a support for the free end of the bar and adjustable mechanism for moving this support, so that the pitch of the spring may be adjusted at will, and springs having coils of different pitch formed upon the same machine.

It further consists in the combination of the revolving mandrel, the support for the free end of the bar, and mechanism whereby the 9o movement of this support is caused to begin after the first coil or a portion thereof has been formed and to cease prior to the formation y of the last coil, so that the Iirst and last coils of the spring may be formed parallel to each other while the intermediate coils are spiral, and in mechanism wherebythe relative points of stopping and starting the movement of this support may be adjusted or varied, as required,to produce springs of different sizes roo or forms upon the same machine.

It further consists in the novel devices and novel combinations of parts and devices herein shown and described, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification and in which simi lar letters of reference indicate like parts, Figure l is a side elevation ot' a spring-coiling machine embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a partial plan View. Fig. 3 is avertical crosssection taken on line 3 3 of Fig. l. Fig. 4 is adetail view of a clutch, hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a detail view of a movable device for pushing the first end of the springbar into position and of the clamping-jaw of the mandrel to insure the proper clamping of the end of the bar to the mandrel. Fig. 6 is a cross-section on line 6 6 of Fig. l. Fig. 7 is a detail plan view showing the mechanism for stopping the mandrel at a certain point. Fig. 8 isa detail end view of the machine, showing the mechanism for communicating motion to the cam-shaft. Figs. 9 and l0 are detail views showing the mechanism for operating-the clamping-jaw, by which the end of the baris clamped to the revolving mandrel.

In the drawings, A represents the frame of the machine. l

B is the revolving mandrel around which the bar X is coiled to form the spring. The mandrel B is journaled in suitable bearings B on the frame of the machine.

C is the movable clamping-jaw, by which the end of the bar is clamped to the mandrel during the coiling operation. This jaw C is carried by and revolves with the mandrel and has an operating-lever c, which works in a slot bin the hollow portion of'the mandrel B. The lever c is pivoted at c to the projection or lug b formed upon the mandrel B. The mandrel B is also furnished with a shoulder b2 adjacent t0 the clamping-jaw C. This shoulder or collar b2 serves as a guide to position thel end of the bar on the mandrel at `the beginning of the coiling operation and as a guide for the first coil of the spring, which is or should be formed at right angles to the axis of the mandrel. The shoulder b2 and the hollow portion b3 of the mandrel may preferably be formed in a separate piece from the solid portion of the mandrel around which the spring is coiled. The clamp C, or its le- Ver o, is opened and closed through a connecting rod or link c2, which extends out through the hollow portion b3 of the mandrel.

D is a movable device or pusher by which the end of the bar is pushed snugly against the shoulder b3 of the mandrel and under the clamping-jaw C, and D is a movable stop against which the end of the bar X projects, and by which the position of the bar longitudinally is regulated in respect to the clamping-jaw and mandrel. The pusher D and stop D are both made movable7 so that they may be swung or moved out of the way of the spring as it is coiled around the mandrel.v

They may be mounted movably in any suitable manner and moved in and out of position by any suitable mechanism. I prefer, however, to mount them on a pivot or shaft d. The arm D may be secured rigidly to the rotatable pivot or shaft d, and the stop D mounted loosely on the pivotdand connected by a spring CZ with the arm D, so that the movement of the arm D will also move the stop device D. The stop D may preferably extend through an opening or notch d2 in the pusher D. By thus providing a spring or yielding connection between the pusher D and stop D the projecting stop D will not prevent or interfere with the proper movement of the pusher D in pushing the bar X into place against the shoulder b2 of the mandrel.

E is the movable support or guide by which the free end of the bar X is held and guidedl during the coiling operation and by which this free end of the bar is moved longitudinally or in the direction of t-he mandrel to give the proper pitch to the intermediate coils of the spring, as desired. This movable support E is preferably furnished with rolls E E', between which the bar X passes. The movable support E is secured to a longitudinal slide F, which moves back and forth in suitable guides a on the frame of the machine. Todiminish the friction of the slide F its guides a are preferably furnished with or made in the form of frictionrollers a. In order to readily adjust or vary the movement of the slide F, I communicate motion to it through a transverse slide G, which reciprocates in suitable guides a2 on the frame of the machine, and which is provided with an adjustable inclined bar or guide g, which impinges against a projection or friction-roller f on the longitudinal slide F, and thus communicates to the slide F and support E a greater or less movement, according to the particular inclination ofthe adjustable guide g. The adjustable guide or bar g has a pivoted part g, which may be fixed in position on the guide-holder g2'parallel to the direction of motion of the slide G, sol that when the roller f strikes against this parallel portion of the guide-bar the further movement of the slide F will cease, though the slide G may continue to move. This is for the purpose of forming the last coil of the spring without any pitch or at right angles to the axis of the ceiling-mandrel. The guide-holder g2 is pivoted at g3 to the slide G and is fixed in position at any desired angle by a clamp screw or bolt g4, which passes through a slot g5 in the slide G. The roller f is ad justably fixed to the slide F by a pivot-boltf,'which passes through a slot f2 in the slide F. The guide or support E for the spring-baris also adj ustably fixed to the slide F by means of the slot f 3, and the guide-rollers on the support E may likewise be adjusted up or down by means of the sliding blocks E2 and set-screws E3.

Il Il are a pair of movable rollers mounted upon opposite sides of the mandrel B to support the free end of the mandrel and to Wind or curve down the final end ot' spring-bar X IOO IIO

as the ceiling-mandrel revolves. These movable rollers H H may preferably be supported or mounted upon the arms of movable levers H H2, which are actuated by cams h h on the cam-shaft K. The lever H2 is operated directly by its cam h, and the lever H is operated indirectly by its cam through the intermediate lever h2 and connecting-link h2. The spring, after it is coiled upon the mandrel, is automatically removed therefrom by means of a pair of opening and closing eX- tracting-jaws M M, having projecting teeth or notches m to tit between the coils of the spring, so as to hold the separate coils in position during the operation of removing the spring from the mandrel. These extractorjaws M M are preferably mounted upon and carried by a slide M', which reciprocates in suitable guides M2 on the frame of the machine. The extractor-jaws M are movably connected to the slide M', and preferably in such way that they may have a straight or parallel opening and closing movement in respect to each other. To effect this I prefer to opcrate each jaw M by a pair of bent levers m m2, so that the means or devices employed for communicating motion to the slide M may also serve to open and close the jaws M M at the proper time. To effect this I connect the pairs of levers m fm2 together by a pivoted link m3, and connect the operating-lever M3 with these pivoted links by means of a T- shaped connecting-linkM". The links m3 are furnished with friction-rollers m4 to receive between them the branches ofthe T-link M2. The operating-lever M3 is pivoted at M5 to the frame of the machine and is actuated by a cam M6 on the cam-shaft K. Motion is con1- municated to the revolving mandrel B from the driving-shaft N by means of a gear B2 keyed to the mandrel and a loose gearN on the driving-shaft N which has a clutch-face n, and is at proper intervals clutched to the driving-shaft by a clutch n thereon actuated by the clutch-sleeve 'n2 through the connecting-collar n2, bent lever n4, and cam n on the cam-shaft K. Motion is communicated from the driving-shaft N to the cam-shaft K, while the mandrel is not being revolved, by means of a clutch-face ne on the sleeve n2, which engages a corresponding clutch @t7 on the face 0f a loose gear ni on the driving shaft, which meshes with a gear K on the camshaft K, and a slow motion is communicated from the driving-shaft to the cam-shaft while the mandrel is being revolved, by means of a spurgear 'its on the driving-shaft N, which meshes with a fiat or disk faced gear n10 on a counter-shaft n, which is furnished with a worm n.12, which meshes with teeth 'm13 of a partial or mutilated gear n on the cam-shaft K. In order to adjust or vary the length of time that the mandrel is revolved for the coiling of each spring, and thus the number of coils or the length of the spring, the flat-faced or disk gear n10 is furnished with a number of rows of teeth 91.15, and the gear ng is made ada device or mechanism for arresting the motion of the mandrel and overcoming its momentum and that of its connecting-gearingl after it is unclutched from the driving-shaft. This motion-arresting device may be of any suitable construction known to those skilled in the art. That which I prefer to employ consists in providing the driving-gear N with a cam or wedge R, which impinges against a pivoted lever R', pivoted to an arm R2 on the pivot or rock-shaft R3, to which the two arms of the clutch-operatinglever n4 are connected. This lever R carries a sliding block R4,which reciprocates in suitable guides on the frame of the machine and has a projection r adapted to engage a cam or projection r on the cam-shaft K. As long as the clutch n is engaged with the clutch n on the face of the mandrel-driving gear l the cam R on the gear N will simply cause the lever R to slide the block R4 loosely up and down, a spring R5 returning the block and lever to position, but the moment the clutch 'n n is disengaged the rock-shaft RS is rocked, throwing up the arm R2, and the cam or projection r is brought under the lip r on the block R2, so that the two pivotal points of the lever R become fixed, and as the cam or wedge R engages'the roller r2 on the end of thelever R', the motion of the gear N and of the mandrel connected therewith will be arrested, the momentum of the parts being overcome by the wedging action of the cam against the lever R.

The shaft CZ, by which the pusher D and stop D are operated, is actuated by a cam d2 on the cam-shaft K.

The transverse slide G, through which motion is communicated to the movable support E, is operated from the driving-shaft by means of a rack gion said slide,which meshes with a pinion Q7 on an upright shaft gwhich carries a worm-gear g, that meshes with a worm glo on the driving-shaft. The wormgear g is clutched to its shaft by means of a clutch g,which is operated by an arm y912 on a rock-shaftgm, having an arm Q14, which engages a cam 915 on the cam-shaft K. The slide G is retracted by means of a cam g1, which engages a pivoted arm or lever g, the upper end of which is connected by a link g1S with a bracket or lug gli), secured to the slide G. The clamping-jaw C or its operating-rod c2 is actuated by a cam c3 on the cam-shaft K through a lever c4, pivoted to the bracket c5, and which is connected by alink c6 with a cam-faced link c7, pivoted at cS to the rod c2, and the cam-face of which impinges against a roller e9, journaled on the collar c10 on the cud ot' the man drelslecvc lf2.

IOO

ITO

In operation the end of the spring-bar X is fed through the guide or support E, so that its end projects against the stop D. The swinging movement of the pusher B then crowds or pushes the end of the bar against the shoulder b2 of the mandrel and under the clamping-jaw O. The clamping-jaw C then closes upon the end of the bar and the coiling-mandrel begins to revolve until one coil or one partial coil is formed around the mandrel. At this time the guide-bar g on the transverse slide Gr comes in contact with the roller fon the longitudinal slide F, and' causes this slide to move slowly forward, producing the required pitch in the intermediate coils of the spring. Vhen the intermediate coils have been formed, the longitudinal slide F will have moved forward until the roller f will strike the straight or parallel portion g of the guide-bar g. As the mandrel continues to revolve, the final coil of the spring will thus be wound parallel to the first coil or at right angles to the axis ot the mandrel. During the final portion of the coiling operation the rollers I-I H are closed upon the spring,

thus flattening or curving down upon the mandrel the projecting end of the bar. In the meantime the extractor-jaws advance into position to close upon this spring, and when the coiling is finished and the rollers H. Il opened or removed the extractor-jaws by the receding movement of the slide hl" remove the iinished spring from the mandrel.

l. In a spring-coiling machine, the combi-- nation, with the revolving mandrel, of an opening and closing jaw mounted thereon, and a support or guide for holding the free end of the bar, substantially as specified.

2. In a spring-ceiling machine, the combiy nation,with the revolving` mandrel, of amovable clamping-jaw for clamping the end of the bar to the revolving mandrel, and a stop for the end of the bar to project against as it is fed between the clamping-jaw and mandrel, substantially as speciiied.

3. In a spring-ceiling machine, the combination, with a revolving mandrel, of a clamping-jaw and a device for pushing the end of the bar into position under the clamping-jaw, substantially as speciiied.

4. The combination, with a revolving mandrel, of a clamping-jaw, a movable device for pushing the end ot' the bar under the jaw, and a movable stop for the end ot the bar to project against, substantially as specified.

5. The combination, with a revolving mandrel, of a movable clamping-jaw C, a pusher D, and a stop D', having a spring or yielding connection with said pusher D and projecting through the same, substantially as specified.

6. In a spring-coiling machine, the combination, with the revolving mandrel, of a pair of movable rollers for rolling` down the iinal end ofthe spring-bar and supporting the mandrel, substantially as specilied.

7. In a spring-coiling machine, the combination, with the revolving mandrel, of a movable roller for ceiling or bending the final end of the spring down upon the mandrel, substantially as specilied.

8. In a spring-ceiling machine, the combinat-ion, with a revolving mandrel, of a pair of opposing rollers IIJ-Land cams and levers for operating the same, substantially as speci tied.

9. In a spring-coiling machine, the combination, with a revolving mandrel, of a roller for pressing down the final end 'of the spring, means for' withdrawing the roller from the mandrel after the spring is coiled, and means for extracting the spring from the mandrel, substantially as specified.

10. The combination, in a spring-ceiling machine, of a revolving mandrel around which the spring is coiled, and an extractor device consisting of a pair of opening and closing jaws furnished with teeth or projections to tit between the coils of the springs, substantially as specified.

il. In a spring-ceiling machine, the combination, with a revolving mandrel, of a pair of spring-extractor jaws having teeth'or projections adapted to [it between the coils of the spring', a reciprocating slide upon which said jaws are mounted, a lever for reciprocating said slide, and mechanism connecting said lever with said opening and closing jaws, so that the forward movement of the slide will open the jaws and the withdrawing movement of the slide close the jaws, substantially as specilied.

12. In a spring-coiling machine, the combination, with the mandrel, of a driving-shaft and a cam-shaft, a clutch and gearing for connecting the mandrel with the drivingshaft, a clutch and gearing connecting the driving-shaft with the cam-shaft when the mandrel is disconnected or unclutched, and a worm and gearing connecting the drivingshaft with the cam-shaft when the mandrel is also in gear with the driving-shaft, substantially as speciiied.

13. In a spring-coiling machine, the combination, with the mandrel, of a driving-shaft and a cam-shaft, a clutch and gearing for connecting the mandrel with the drivingshaft, a clutch and gearing connecting the driving-shaft with the cam-shaft when the mandrel is disconnected or unclutched,aud a worm and gearing connecting the drivingsha't't with the cam-shaft when the mandrel is also in gear with the driving-shaft, said latter gearing being furnished with means for increasing or decreasing the relative speed of the cam-shaft in respect to the mandrel, substantially as specified,

14C. The combination, with. the revolving mandrel, ot a movable support forthe free end ofthe spring mounted upon a longitudinal slide, and a transverse slide for comm unicating motion thereto, having an adjustably inclined bar or guide engaging a projection or roller on the longitudinal slide, whereby the movement of the longitudinal slide and the IOO IIO

consequent pitch of J011e spring may be adj usted or varied, substantially as specified.

l5. In a spring-coiling machine, the comb"- nation, with the revolving mandrel, of a movable support; for the free end of the spring and adjustable mechanism for communicating motion to said support, substantially as specified.

16. In a spring-coiling machine, the combination, with a revolving mandrel around which the spring is coiled, of a clamping-jaw for elampingthe end of thebai' to the revolving mandrel, a movable support for holding the bal' as :it is coiled around the mandrel, and mechanism for stopping the revolving mandrel at a certain point, so that the bai' may be inserted between the jaw and the mandrel at the beginning of the operation, l substantially as specified.

HUMPHRY D. MILLETT.

Witnesses:

H. M. MUNDAY, EDMUND ADcooK. 

